Monday: Scenes from around York County during storm

Not taking chances in Dover Township

Dover Township mobile home park resident Tom Freed endured flooding last year and lost a lot of belongings.

So this time, when he caught news of Sandy, he gathered what money he had and rented a U-Haul truck and a storage unit, he said Monday morning.

The mobile home park, located on Pine Road, typically floods during heavy storms. At one point last September, the muddy waters of the nearby Little Conewago Creek overflowed to knee-high level on Pine Road.

Gene Witmer, 72, watches the water rising outside his trailer in Conewago Township at about noon on Monday, Oct. 29, 2012. Witmer and his wife have lived in the trailer park for 42 years. (YORK DAILY RECORD/SUNDAY NEWS--JASON PLOTKIN)

Following the storm, several residents received money from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to rebuild.

"We're just moving everything out," Freed said. "We're not taking any chances this time. ... Don't feel like going through it again."

Freed, 33, said he and his fiancée, April Heffner, 29, and their two children, a 10-year-old son and a 7-year-old daughter, will stay with nearby family.

Freed, who moved boxes from his trailer to the U-Haul, said the kids were packing up their things too.

Watch out for blowing political signs

The campaigns for Democrat Rob Teplitz and Republican John McNally III sent out similar messages Sunday.

"If you have a yard sign in your yard, please bring it inside in advance of this storm," McNally's campaign posted on its Facebook page. "In addition to rain, it is predicted that we will have a major wind event with sustained winds of 30-40 mph."

"We are removing our signs from dangerous areas as fast as we can, but we could use your help," the Teplitz campaign wrote. "If you see one in an area that may present a problem, please grab it and hold onto it until after the storm. Contact us and we'll pick it up and put it back out when things settle down."

McNally of Lower Paxton Township and Teplitz of Susquehanna Township are running against each other in the 15th state Senate race, which includes parts of northern York County. In a phone interview Monday morning, Teplitz said the campaign has thousands of signs, and he and volunteers targeted ones near intersections, highways, on-ramps and off-ramps.

"It's impossible for us to get every one, but we're trying to make sure that we don't add to what's already going to be a precarious situation," Teplitz said.

Teplitz said he did knock on doors this weekend. "We tried to keep it light. We were asking people if they were prepared for the storm," Teplitz said. "We want to respect what people are really concerned about right now. They're concerned about their own safety."

Residents asked to reduce water use

York City Wastewater Treatment Plant customers are being asked to reduce their water use because of heavy rainfall, according to a news release.

The service area for the plant includes: Manchester Township, North York, Spring Garden Township, West Manchester Township West York, York and York Township. The release states that the request remains in effect until further notice.

James Gross, director of the department of public works for York, said the plant in Manchester Township had substantial flooding last year because of Tropical Storm Lee.

"I don't think this is going to be as bad from a rainfall standpoint, but we did take some precautions," Gross said.

Other parts of the county are dealing with the same issue.

Shrewsbury borough posted an emergency notice on its website, asking sewer customers to limit their water usage because of the storm.

"Please limit the use of both clothes and dishwashing machines and take quick showers instead of baths during this potentially devastating storm," the notice on the website reads.

It also states that "extremely high flows at the plant can result in violations in our operating permit and damage to the facility and its equipment."

That request will remain in effect until 11 p.m. Tuesday or until a similar notice is sent to customers indicating that normal activities can resume, according to the notice.

Cindy Bosley, secretary for the borough, said that automated phone calls have also been made to sewer customers. She and another borough official said the concern is that water will overload the wastewater treatment plant, located in Railroad and owned by New Freedom.

"They want to make sure that they can treat all the sewage," said Brian Sweitzer, superintendent of public works for Shrewsbury borough.

He said that wastewater treatment plant serves New Freedom, Railroad, Shrewsbury boroughs, as well as portions of Shrewsbury Township and Hopewell Township.

John S. Smith, director of wastewater operations for the treatment plant, said they used the automated phone system last year during Tropical Storm Lee.

"During Tropical Storm Lee, we did not have any overflows of any kind," said Smith.

Soggy Halloween prep

Last year, it was a snowstorm.

This year, Hurricane Sandy is dampening Halloween preparations in York County.

Debbi Reck, owner of Make Believin' in York Township, sent a leprechaun on his way around 1:30 p.m. Monday. But that was only one of a few customers who visited the store as the storm churned into the area.

Reck, who decided to close at 4 p.m. Monday, said business is usually booming with last-minute costume seekers in the days before Halloween. Make Believin' offers about 10,000 costumes. Pirates have been among the most popular getups this year, Reck added.

Warning: Driving around
'road closed' signs could
cost you

A woman drove around a barricade on Maple Street in North Codorus Township and became stranded in the rising waters of the Codorus Creek Monday evening, township fire chief Larry Wildasin said.

She drove into the water until it was up to the hood of her Chevy Cobalt, Southwestern Regional Police Sgt. Jamie Stalcup said.

"I guess she couldn't back out," he said.

Rescuers had to go into the water to rescue her. The driver is OK, Wildasin said.

"Her car might not be there when they go for it," he said.

It's not worth risking rescuers' lives to pull the vehicle out of the water right now, Wildasin said.

The driver will be cited with a new law that fines motorists who go around "road closed" signs during hazardous conditions, Stalcup said.
Drivers will receive two points on their driving record, and a $250 fine if they go around a sign closing a road for hazardous conditions, according to state police.

If emergency responders are called, however, the fine increases to between $250 and $500, state police said. Drivers also can be held liable for repaying the costs for the emergency response.

"When a motorist fails to
obey these signs, they can po´
tentially put their own life in
danger as well as the lives of
the first responders if rescue
is necessary," a state news re´
lease stated. "With a storm
such as this, road closures
are common due to flooding,
downed power lines, and
downed trees."

Been there before

Gene Witmer and wife Madelyn have had to evacuate from their trailer at Zimmy's mobile home park in Conewago Township previously.

On Monday, Gene, 72, looked at the rising water level of Poplar Run and thought that it could happen again, this time for several days.

For the Witmers, who have lived in the park for 42 years, getting a home on higher ground is not an option.

"When you have low income, what can you do?" he said. "This is the only place we have."

Witmer said he and Madelyn, 81, have nearby relatives with whom to stay if necessary.

Municipal cooperation

Six communities in eastern York County banded together to respond to the storm, said Andrew Stern, emergency management coordinator for Hellam Township.

They are referring to it as the Eastern York County Emergency Management Agency.

Three of them - Hallam, Wrightsville and Hellam Township - worked together during Tropical Storm Lee last year, and community officials talked and decided to join together again this year.

Open for business

The storm shuttered a number of local bars Monday.

But Emmanuel Tsogas, who owns The Stadium Grille in York, opened at 7 a.m. despite the dismal forecast.

He said business was brisk - no different than any other weekday. The bar was also filling several carry-out beer and food orders.

Tsogas said he planned to stay open until 11 p.m., unless the power went out. Customers crave chicken, pizza and other comfort food when it's storming, he added.

Holy Hound Taproom opened Monday afternoon as wind and rain pelted the area.

Shortly after the York bar unlocked its doors, owner Scott Eden counted five customers planted on stools.

Eden said he's encouraging those who lose power to come in and charge their phones and other devices. While inside, he said customers can find a selection of craft beers by the pint and growler.

Eden, who used to live in North Carolina, has weathered other storms. So, as long as Holy Hound has power, he said the bar will open regular hours.

Some sought shelters

A Red Cross emergency shelter was up-and-running at noon Monday in the York County School of Technology.

Karen Diehl, a Red Cross volunteer, had checked in 12 people seeking shelter at 2 p.m.

Less than 20 had shown up at either of the county's emergency shelters by 5:30 p.m., said Bob Straw, emergency response regional manager for Red Cross.

Christine Funke brought her three children from Meadow Run Mobile Home Park in Conewago Township.

They lost power around noon, she said. Her daughter, Amanda, 12, uses a nebulizer to administer medication for her asthma. The air compressor in the machine requires electricity.

"The lights flickered a bit at first," Funke said. "And when they were out for about an hour, my daughter started getting nervous, so I brought them here."

Funke's son, Donovan, has epilepsy. She was worried the stress of losing power might trigger an attack.

The Red Cross does not allow pets at the shelters. Volunteers will help those seeking aid to find shelter for their pets from coordinated efforts with county animal rescue teams.

The organization also has coordinated efforts with the York Rescue Mission to allow homeless citizens shelter during the day. The Mission usually does not allow people to come until evening, Straw said.

Pulling dock onshore

The Pages, of Landisville, Lancaster County - David and Cindy and son Zachary - wrestled with their floating dock in Lake Clarke in Long Level Monday morning, trying to get it ashore before the brunt of the hurricane hit.

David works as a registered nurse at Wellspan Health and was on duty all weekend. Monday morning was their first opportunity to get to the Susquehanna River to secure their dock.

"We always wait for the last minute anyway," Cindy said.

David and Zachary worked to pull the stakes securing the dock as the rough waters made the dock bob and sway.

It took more than an hour, but they were able to pull the dock onto higher ground, towing it out of the river with their Chevy Yukon.

Nothing to get excited about

Dick Hickman, owner of the Long Level Marina, spent the morning monitoring the river stages online. It didn't look too bad, he said. The river was low to begin with, and the forecast was for the water to stay within the river's banks.

"If it gets up here," he said from the counter of the marina's shop, above the river's surface, "York County and Harrisburg, as they exist, will be obliterated."

The marina staff worked late last week and over the weekend to move boats to higher ground. It was routine work, Hickman said, the marina's season having ended a few weeks ago.

Hickman has been on the river all of his life. Last year's flooding and previous ice jams were worse than what he was expecting with Sandy.

"We've been through this before," he said. "Ain't no sense getting excited about it. This is nothing."

Ice to sell

Kevin May, proprietor of River Beverage in Wrightsville, was laying in a supply of ice Monday.

"I didn't get a ton of it," he said. "But I did get some extra in case people need it."

He was doing a good business Monday morning. "Snow storms, floods, we always get busier," he said.

A customer walked in and said, "This is the best day of the year for you."

May said, "We'll see how long the lights stay on. It looks like we're going to get hit pretty hard."

County declares disaster

York County commissioners Monday morning approved a disaster emergency declaration.

The declaration authorizes county officials to take immediate action to address conditions related to Hurricane Sandy, according to a news release.

For instance, the declaration allows the county to acquire rental equipment and enter into contracts without the normal bidding process, according to the release.

York College closed

The biggest concern at York College is a power outage, said spokeswoman Mary Dolheimer. The college was closed Monday and will be Tuesday.

The school asked students to stay in their residence halls, Dolheimer said. The college didn't ask them to head home, not wanting to send them out into the storm.

Various buildings, such as the student union, have generators, so they could be used for shelter if necessary. The dining hall has a generator, so the college could feed students in the case of a power outage, and shuttles have been arranged to transport students around campus if necessary.

"We brought in plenty of water, are making some contingencies in terms of food," she said.

The college has been using social media, internal communications, the web page and other methods to communicate with students. It plans to use its emergency alert system only in the case of a schedule change or if the college needs action from students, Dolheimer said.

College officials will meet again this morning to assess what parts of campus remain open, she said.

'People are trying to profit off this'

Robert Seibert of Columbia trekked across the river to buy kerosene. He has gas heat, but if the power goes off and his furnace doesn't work, he figured he'd turn to his kerosene heater, which he uses for his hunting cabin, to stay warm.

"They're all out of kerosene in Columbia," he said. ""Batteries are sold out too. It's nuts."

On the way over to York County, he said he saw someone with a stand along Route 462 between Columbia and Mountville selling batteries for $10.

"People trying to profit off this," he said. "That's disgusting."

Route 30 bridge lane closed

PennDOT closed the express lane on westbound Route 30 on the bridge over the Susquehanna River Monday.

Spokesman Greg Penny said the lane was the left one, a cattle chute set up during construction on the bridge. The lane doesn't drain well, and PennDOT was concerned drivers could be swamped as they crossed the bridge.

The right-hand lane of the westbound lanes on the bridge was to remain open.

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